A: Perhaps. But not because something specific happens when the clock strikes 7pm, 8pm, or whatever arbitrary time you decide is “too late”.

So if bowl of cereal will have the same number of calories at 9am as it does at 9pm,  why do you hear, time and time again, that people who eat late at night tend to be heavier than those who finish eating earlier? Eating behaviors that occur later at night are the issue.

A recent study in the medical journal Obesity showed that people who ate after 8pm consumed an average of 250kcal more than people who ate earlier, but more strikingly they exhibited a number of other unhealthy habits such as preferring highly caloric processed or fast foods, eating while distracted, and sleeping less.  It was well documented in Mindless Eating that people who snacked while watching TV or a movie consume far more than they realize, and lack of sleep does affect hormones that control hunger and satiety so staying up past your bedtime can make your body crave chips or sugar when it really wants and needs sleep.

So the next time you’re hesitant to attend a dinner party because the meal will be served later than your usual meal time, remember you’re stomach won’t turn into a big, bloated pumpkin just because you’re eating when the clock strikes 9. But, if you’re consistently eating more than you should and more often than you should, you will gain weight… even if you don’t eat between 7pm and 7am.